Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16)

I had a long discussion with someone very dear to me the other day, and they shared some of the great challenges that they were facing…hoping that they would be resolved before Christmas and the New Year arrived.  This was the day after Thanksgiving, and quite possibly they won’t be resolved.  This difficult situation was affecting almost every area of their life, and there was almost nothing that they could do to change things, other than wait, watch and pray.

The past few weeks we have been looking at the joy of the Lord being an essential element to our spiritual lives. This character above is a Bible action figure, I don’t remember if he was Sampson, or maybe Nehemiah, but in reality I picture the apostle Paul this way.  Even, when he was emaciated with hunger, in prison, and beaten, this is what he looks like in the spirit, and most likely even stronger, the weaker that his body got.

Paul is the one who wrote this passage to the church in Colossae.  This was an exhortation for them to speak to each other, to allow the words of Christ to not just be recited on Sunday mornings, or on church bulletins, but to dwell, invade, infuse all aspects of their lives…and to sing them, both with written known songs (hymns and songs) as well as be like my little niece who makes songs up as she goes along her way…to let the word of God be what bubbles out of us as we go through our days.  If you can’t think of anything to say or sing, just start, “with thankfulness in your heart to God.”  Count your blessings…as grandma used to say.

That above conversation ended with us encouraging each other with what the Lord has been showing us.  For me, I encouraged this person to “find joy” however and in whatever you find yourself in the midst of.  Whether this situation is resolved before the end of the year or not, enjoy Christmas, enjoy relationships, celebrate the good things God has given us.  And their encouragement to me was to hold things with open hands, let God take control and be content with how, and when things work out.  The word of Christ came and dwelt in that conversation.

A couple of men who literally had the word of God come into their being…something to think about as we walk through this new month of December…how intimately and integrated into our lives, our conversations and our daily activities are the words of Jesus.

“Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel…”  Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey.  (Ezekiel 3:1-3)

Your words were found and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart,.. (Jeremiah 15:16)

So I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll.  And he said to me, “Take it and eat it…”  And I was told, “You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings.”  (Revelation 10:9-11)